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1998 Chevrolet Blazer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Blazer years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer are substantially higher than the model-year median of 32.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

269 reports with mileage · 447 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 256 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 84 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports15 fire reports31 injury reports

What owners actually said

716 reports
83,000 miles · Jul 30, 2007
Electrical SystemVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT. AT TIMES THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT OTHER TIMES THE STOP IN MID CYCLE AND AT OTHER TIMES THE SPEED CONTROL WON'T ALLOW THEM TO SHUT OFF. THIS NORMALLY OCCURS DURING A DOWNPOUR. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY IT TAKES BEFORE NTSB DECIDES TO MAKE GM REPAI…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT. AT TIMES THERE IS NO PROBLEM AT OTHER TIMES THE STOP IN MID CYCLE AND AT OTHER TIMES THE SPEED CONTROL WON'T ALLOW THEM TO SHUT OFF. THIS NORMALLY OCCURS DURING A DOWNPOUR. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY IT TAKES BEFORE NTSB DECIDES TO MAKE GM REPAIR AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197823

90,000 miles · Jun 15, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND MADE A RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO SLOW IT DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE HAD BECOME STUCK. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE T…

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

NHTSA ODI #10193451

120,000 miles · May 10, 2007
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED/FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE PATTERN, BUT IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY WIFE TRAVELED 120 MILES ROUND TRIP TO WORK AND HAD TO STOP MIDWAY YESTERDAY BECAUSE OF RAIN. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY DECIDED NOT TO WORK. A HALF-HOUR OF WAITING AND THEY WORKED FINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10190378

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2007
Electrical System

MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH PROBLEM. THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING THE RAIN. IN THE PAST I HAVE SPOKEN TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGERS AND THEY SAID A LOT OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER DELAY BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS MADE ON IT. MOSTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF…

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MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH PROBLEM. THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING DURING THE RAIN. IN THE PAST I HAVE SPOKEN TO DEALER SERVICE MANAGERS AND THEY SAID A LOT OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WIPER DELAY BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS MADE ON IT. MOSTLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE WIPERS WILL NOT TURN OFF WITH THE SWITCH, THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO TURN OFF THE WIPERS. THE CONCERN IS THE WIPER STOPPING DURING HEAVY RAIN CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR YEARS, I JUST BECAME AWARE OF THIS ROUTE OF COMPLAINT PROCESS. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH IS EXPENSIVE. CLICKING IS ALSO HEARD AT TIMES DUE TO THE SWITCH, A SERVICE MANAGER HAS SAID THE MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH CAUSES THIS ALSO. THE 10 FOR NUMBER OF FAILURES IS THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF TIMES I CAN REMEMBER THE WIPERS STOPPED WHEN OPERATING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182235

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2007
Visibility

FOR THE PAST YEAR OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE I'VE EXPERIENCED A SPORADIC FRONT WIPER MOTOR. JUST RECENTLY IT WENT OUT CAUSING ME TO SWERVE AND HIT A LOW BRANCH. THE BRANCH CAUSED THE WINDSCREEN TO CRACK BUT NOT SHATTER, AND THE DRIVERSIDE WIPER TO CEASE FUNCTIONING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178678

85,000 miles · Sep 23, 2006
Visibility

1998 CHEVROLET BLAZER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTS ERRATIC. RECENTLY HAVE NOT BEEN COMING ON WHEN TURNED ON. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169128

120,829 miles · Aug 27, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

ISSUES ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT FROM A 20K PLUS VEHICLE INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILURE TODAY ("NEAR MISS" ACCIDENT FROM HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC), SMOKE EMITTING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT REPETITIVE SOUNDS EMITTING FROM TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER(S). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS HAVE ALL PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESCRIBED IN G…

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ISSUES ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT FROM A 20K PLUS VEHICLE INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE FAILURE TODAY ("NEAR MISS" ACCIDENT FROM HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC), SMOKE EMITTING FROM STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT REPETITIVE SOUNDS EMITTING FROM TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER(S). SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS HAVE ALL PREVIOUSLY BEEN DESCRIBED IN GREAT DETAIL BY OTHER OWNERS AS: AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE, WIPER CONTROL BOARD, VARIOUS CONNECTORS AND OR HARNESS, MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, SMOKE CONCERNS ETC. LISTED FROM COMPLAINTS FROM ODI CASE NUMBERS: 743685, 10014026, 10023129, 10030946, 10036610, 10045357, 10060630, 10066061, 10086138, 10086896, 10098912, 10103977, 10112458, 10137415, 549079, 847885, 866953, 874993. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166638

152,000 miles · Aug 11, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLES THROTTLE BUTTERFLY FRACTURED OFF AND LOCKED THE THROTTLE OPEN, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10165254

40,300 miles · Aug 7, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 98V150001, REGARDING THE VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10164835

124,000 miles · Jul 26, 2006
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY AND NEVER IN HEAVY RAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WORK IN LIGHT RAIN BUT THEN QUIT ALL TOGETHER. REFUSE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS MONEY PIT AND GET THEM FIXED. ASSUMING IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS BLAZER MODEL. AM LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND ONLY DRIVE BLAZER WHEN CONDITI…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY AND NEVER IN HEAVY RAIN. SOMETIMES THEY WORK IN LIGHT RAIN BUT THEN QUIT ALL TOGETHER. REFUSE TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS MONEY PIT AND GET THEM FIXED. ASSUMING IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS BLAZER MODEL. AM LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND ONLY DRIVE BLAZER WHEN CONDITIONS ARE DRY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163576

Official recalls

3

00V220000 · Exterior Lighting

Aug 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS BUILT WITH A CANDELA VALUE GREATER THAN 3,000 CANNOT BE MOUNTED HIGHER THAN 864MM ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED WIRING HARNESS THAT CHANGES THE DRL'S FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM DRL'S, AND INSTALL NEW LONG-LIFE LOW BEAM BULBS.

98V053000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mar 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ02012 · Front Control Arm Ball Joints

Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 7, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Additional source detail variants (7)

Suspension:front:control Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.